Method and system for use of network affiliation as basis to determine channel rendered by content presentation device

ABSTRACT

A computing system detects a channel multi-match with non-matching programs, based on fingerprint-based ACR analysis of digital fingerprint data representing a channel rendered by a content presentation device. The system then responsively determines a channel rendered by the device through a process including (a) determining that channels of the multi-match group are all affiliate channels of the same network as each other and (b) determining, as the channel, which affiliate channel of that network serves a location of the content presentation device. The system then uses the determined channel as a basis for carrying out of at least one channel-specific operation, such as recording audience-measurement data and/or invoking dynamic content modification.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.62/876,359, filed Jul. 19, 2019, the entirety of which is herebyincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

A typical content presentation device operates to receive an analog ordigital media stream representing media content such as video and/oraudio content and to render and present the media content on a userinterface such as a display screen and/or an audio speaker. Examples ofsuch devices include, without limitation, televisions, computermonitors, projection systems, loudspeakers, headphones, and the like.

In many cases, such a content presentation device may be incommunication with a receiver, such as a local set top box or othersimilar device or a remote server, that has access to numerous discretechannels of media content and that can selectively deliver a given suchchannel's media content to the content presentation device for playout.

By way of example, a television may be communicatively linked by aHigh-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) cable or other interfacewith a cable-TV set top box that has access to a set of cable-TVchannels, and the set top box may be configured to receive user inputselecting a particular channel and to responsively tune to the selectedchannel and output to the television the media content of the selectedchannel, for presentation of the media content to a user. As anotherexample, a loudspeaker may be communicatively linked with a radio thathas access to a set of radio stations, and the radio may be configuredto receive user input selecting a particular channel (station) and toresponsively tune to the selected channel and output to the loudspeakerthe media content of the selected channel, for presentation of the mediacontent to a user. And as still another example, a content presentationdevice such as a display or speaker may be communicatively linked with acomputer that has access to a myriad of online streaming media channels,and the computer may be configured to receive user input selecting aparticular channel and to responsively initiate receipt and output ofthe selected media content and provide the media content to the displayand/or speaker for presentation to a user.

SUMMARY

When a content presentation device receives and renders media content,the content presentation device may not have an indication of whichchannel of media content the content presentation device is rendering. Areceiver or other device that selectively tunes to the channel andreceives the media content and that provides the media content to thecontent presentation device may have such information, but the contentpresentation device that receives the media content from that otherdevice may not have such information. For example, if a television iscoupled with a cable-TV set top box and a user selects a particularcable channel on the set top box, the set top box may thereby have anindication of the selected channel as the channel on which the set topbox is then receiving a media content that is being output to thetelevision. But the television itself may merely receive and render themedia content and may have no indication of the selected channel.

For various reasons, however, it may be useful to determine which ofvarious channels is the channel of content rendered (e.g., beingrendered, having been rendered, or in queue to be rendered) by a contentpresentation device. Further, it may be useful to do so withoutreceiving from a channel-selection device (e.g., receiver or remotecontrol) a report of the channel, and perhaps without any involvement ofthe channel-selection device. For instance, it may be useful for thecontent presentation device itself, and/or a network server working incooperation with the content presentation device, to determine thechannel based on an evaluation of the media content rendered by themedia presentation.

Given knowledge of the channel of content rendered by the contentpresentation device, the content presentation device, the networkserver, and/or another entity could then carry out one or moreoperations keyed to that channel, such as recording audience-measurementdata (e.g., viewership or listenership data, for use in channel ratings)or engaging in dynamic content revision (e.g., selectively replacing apredetermined portion of the media content with alternative content suchas a replacement advertisement, or superimposing supplemental contentover the media content being rendered), among other possibilities.

One method to determine the channel of content rendered by the contentpresentation device is to apply fingerprint-based automatic contentrecognition (ACR) based on digital fingerprint data representing themedia content.

With fingerprint-based ACR, a computing system could be provisioned withreference data that includes digital reference fingerprints respectivelyrepresenting each of various known channels of media content and thatmaps the reference fingerprints to the respective channels that theyrepresent. Further, as the content presentation device is rendering achannel of media content, the content presentation device could generateand provide the computing system with digital query fingerprints thatrepresent the media content currently being rendered by the contentpresentation device. The computing system could then compare that queryfingerprint data with the reference fingerprint data known to representmedia content on various channels. And upon finding that the queryfingerprint data matches the reference fingerprint data mapped to aparticular channel, the computing system could thus determine that thechannel being rendered by the content presentation device is thatparticular channel.

In practice, the computing system could record and report thisdetermined channel for use as audience-measurement data or for otherpurposes. For instance, the computing system could generate and providean ACR data record in which the computing system specifies an identityof the content presentation device, an identity of the determinedchannel, and a timestamp indicating when the content presentation devicewas rendering the determined channel, among other possibilities. Andthis ACR data record could then be used as a basis to inform advertisingdecisions or for other purposes.

Further, the computing system could use the determined channel as abasis to facilitate dynamic content revision such as dynamic adinsertion (DAI). For instance, once the computing system has determinedthe channel being rendered by the content presentation device, thecomputing system could analyze that determined channel of content as thechannel is en route to the content presentation device and could detectthe presence of a replaceable advertisement on the channel. In response,the computing system could then dynamically cause the contentpresentation device to replace that upcoming advertisement with areplacement advertisement, such as one targeted based on userdemographics or the like.

Unfortunately, however, a problem that can arise in this process is thatthe same media content may be provided on multiple different channels ata given time, and so digital fingerprint data representing media contentbeing rendered by the content presentation device may not correlate withjust the channel being rendered by the content presentation device.

For example, a sports game or political event might be broadcastconcurrently on multiple different channels, or a syndicated televisionor radio show might be broadcast concurrently on multiple differentchannels. In these or other scenarios, if the content presentationdevice is presenting such media content and generates and provides queryfingerprint data representing the media content, the computing systemcould map that query fingerprint data to multiple instances of referencefingerprint data corresponding with multiple channels, and consequentlythe channel identification would be inconclusive.

As a specific example of this, consider a scenario where two differentvideo content providers both broadcast the same sports game, each on aseparate respective channel, and where an advertiser has a contract withjust one of the content providers to present a targeted replacementadvertisement on that provider's broadcast of the game. In thisscenario, when a content presentation device is receiving and presentingone of these broadcasts, if the content presentation device generatesand provides to the computing system query fingerprint data representingthat broadcast, the computing system may find that the query fingerprintdata matches reference fingerprint data respectively of both contentproviders' broadcasts of the game and thus both channels. As a result,it may be unclear whether the content presentation device should presentthe replacement advertisement or not.

As another example, if the computing system is going to provide an ACRdata record for use as audience-measurement data or other purposes, thechannel-identification in the ACR data record itself may beinconclusive. Rather than specifying in the ACR data record just asingle matching channel, the computing system may construct the ACR datarecord as a multi-match log that lists the multiple matching channels,i.e., the multiple channels whose reference fingerprint data thecomputing system determined all matched the query fingerprint dataprovided by the content presentation device. Yet such a multi-match logmay be of relatively little value for audience-measurement purposes orthe like, as it would not conclusively specify which of the multiplechannels the content presentation device was rendering at the time.

Disclosed herein are methods and systems to help disambiguate channelidentification in a scenario where query fingerprint data of a channelrendered by a content presentation device matches multiple instances ofreference fingerprint data corresponding respectively with multipledifferent known channels.

The disclosure provides an integrated, multi-step process that could becarried out by a computing system in real-time or throughpost-processing. For instance, the computing system could carry out theprocess in real-time while a content presentation device is rendering achannel of content, to identify the channel so as to facilitate dynamiccontent revision or other channel-specific operations. Alternatively,the process could be carried out after the fact, through post-processingof one or more multi-match logs as discussed above, among otherpossibilities.

In accordance with the disclosure, the computing system will detect achannel multi-match scenario based on a determination that queryfingerprint data of a channel rendered by the content presentationdevice matches reference fingerprint data respectively of multiplechannels. Given such a channel multi-match, the computing system willfurther determine based on electronic-program-guide (EPG) information orthe like that, at the time of the channel multi-match, at least two ofthe determined matching channels were scheduled to be presentingdifferent program content than each other. Thus, the computing systemwill have detected a channel multi-match with non-matching programs.

Practically speaking, this channel multi-match with non-matchingprograms could occur in various scenarios.

By way of example, at a given time, multiple different channels that arescheduled to be presenting different programs than each other could eachbe in the midst of a commercial break and could be presenting the sameadvertisement as each other. In that scenario, the query fingerprintdata representing the advertisement being rendered by the contentpresentation device could match the reference fingerprint data alsorepresenting the advertisement respectively on each of those channels,but the programs scheduled on the channels at the time of that channelmulti-match would be different than each other.

As another example, at a given time, multiple different channels couldbe presenting the same live program as each other, and that live programcould overrun its scheduled time slot, into a next time slot in whichthe channels are scheduled to be presenting different programs than eachother. As a result, during the overrun, the query fingerprint datarepresenting the overrunning live program being rendered by the contentpresentation device could match the reference fingerprint data alsorepresenting the overrunning live program respectively on each of thosechannels, but the programs scheduled on the channels at that time wouldbe different than each other.

According to the disclosure, in response to the computing systemdetecting at least the channel multi-match with non-matching programs,the computing system will then automatically resolve the channelmulti-match by taking into account information regarding a networkaffiliation of a content distributor that distributes the channel to thecontent presentation device.

In particular, the computing system could evaluate a multi-match log orassociated information regarding the channel multi-match withnon-matching channels, and the computing system could thereby determinethat the matching channels are affiliate channels of the same network aseach other. In response to and based on detecting the combined factorsof (i) the channel multi-match with non-matching channels and (ii) thematching channels being affiliate channels of the same network as eachother, the computing system could then determine, as the channelrendered by the content presentation device, the network's affiliatechannel that serves the content presentation device's market (e.g.,serving location).

The theory here is that, when the matching channels are affiliatechannels of the same network as each other and when the programsscheduled on those channels at the time of the channel multi-match aredifferent than each other, there is a reasonable chance that the network(e.g., national broadcaster, such as ABC, CBS, NBC, or another) isbroadcasting a program that is overrunning its scheduled time slot andtherefore that that program as provided by each of the network'saffiliate channels is overrunning its scheduled time slot. In thissituation, it would therefore be reasonable to select, as the channelrendered by the content presentation device, the network's affiliatechannel that serves the content presentation device's market.

Note further that the channel selected through this process need notnecessarily be one of the matching channels identified as part of themulti-match group. In practice, the ACR system might have referencefingerprint data for channels in just some but not all markets.Therefore, while the system may detect a channel multi-match as tomultiple affiliate channels of a given network, there might be one ormore affiliate channels of that network that are not encompassed by thecomputing system's multi-match finding. For instance, the network couldhave an affiliate channel that serves the content presentation device'smarket but that is not one of the channels in the multi-match group. Inthat case, on the basis noted above, the computing could stillreasonably select, as the channel rendered by the content presentationdevice, the network's affiliate channel that serves the contentpresentation device's market.

Upon resolving the channel ambiguity through this process, the computingsystem could then take action, or cause action to be taken, based on thesingle determined channel. For instance, the computing system couldrecord or report an identity of the single determined channel for use asaudience-measurement data and/or could provide or use an identity of thesingle determined channel as a basis to invoke DAI or otherchannel-specific action.

Accordingly, disclosed is a method for determining a channel rendered bya content presentation device to facilitate taking a channel-specificaction such as recording audience-measurement data and/or invokingdynamic content modification such as DAI. The method involves acomputing system detecting a channel multi-match with non-matchingprograms. Further the method involves the computing system responding toat least the detecting of the channel multi-match with non-matchingprograms by carrying out a channel-determination process including (a)determining that channels of the multi-match group are all affiliatechannels of the same network as each other and (b) determining, as thechannel, which affiliate channel of that network serves a location ofthe content presentation device. And the method involves the system thenusing determined channel as a basis for carrying out of at least onechannel-specific operation, such as recording audience-measurement dataand/or invoking dynamic content modification.

Further disclosed is a computing system including a networkcommunication interface, a processing unit, non-transitory data storage,and program instructions stored in (e.g., on) the non-transitory datastorage and executable by the processing unit to carry out these and/orother disclosed operations. And disclosed is a computer-readable storagemedium encoding, embodying, and/or otherwise storing programinstructions executable by a processing unit to carry out suchoperations.

These as well as other aspects, advantages, and alternatives will becomeapparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reading the followingdetailed description, with reference where appropriate to theaccompanying drawings. Further, it should be understood that thedescriptions provided in this summary and below are intended toillustrate the invention by way of example only and not by way oflimitation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of an example system in whichvarious disclosed principles can be implemented.

FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of an example network arrangementin which various disclosed principles can be implemented.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart depicting operations that can be carried out inaccordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a simplified block diagram of an example computing system.

FIG. 5 is a simplified block diagram of an example content presentationdevice.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of anexample system in which various disclosed principles can be applied. Itwill be understood, however, that this and other arrangements andprocesses described herein can take various other forms. For instance,elements and operations can be re-ordered, distributed, replicated,combined, omitted, added, or otherwise modified. Further, it will beunderstood that functions described herein as being carried out by oneor more entities could be implemented by and/or on behalf of thoseentities, through hardware, firmware, and/or software, such as by one ormore processing units executing program instructions or the like.

As shown in FIG. 1, the example system includes one or more mediacontent sources 100 (e.g., broadcasters, web servers, etc.), one or moremedia content distributors 102 (e.g., multi-channel distributors, suchas cable providers, satellite providers, over-the-air broadcastproviders, web aggregators, etc.), one or more media content receivers104 (e.g., cable receivers, satellite receivers, over-the-air broadcastreceivers, computers or other streaming media receivers, etc.), and oneor more clients or content presentation devices 106 (e.g., televisionsor other display devices, loudspeakers or other audio output devices,etc.)

In practice, the media content sources 100 could be national broadcastnetworks or other networks, such as ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, HBO, and CNN,each network comprising respective components to generate or otherwiseprovide content such as programs, commercials, and the like fordistribution and ultimate receipt and playout by content presentationdevices.

The media content distributors 102 could then be local affiliates ofthose networks, each local affiliate serving a respective designatedmarket area (DMA) and comprising components to receive a broadcast feedfrom its respective network and to output that broadcast feed on arespective affiliate channel for transmission to customer premises. Suchan affiliate could itself provide the physical communication means fortransporting its affiliate channel to customer premises. For instance,the affiliate could provide its own terrestrial over-the-air service,cable service, or satellite service to customer premises and couldtransmit its affiliate channel to customer premises through those orother means. Alternatively, an affiliate could distribute its affiliatechannel to customer premises through one or more other entities. Forinstance, the affiliate could provide its affiliate channel to anothercontent distributor that provides terrestrial over-the-air service,cable service, or satellite service to customer premises, and that othercontent distributor could thus transmit the affiliate channel tocustomer premises through those or other means. The receivers 104 andcontent presentation devices 106 could then be situated at customerpremises, such as homes or business establishments.

With this or other arrangements, the content sources 100 could delivermedia content to various content distributors 102 for distribution toreceivers 104 at customer premises, and the content distributors 120, bythemselves or through other distributors, could distribute the mediacontent to the receivers 104 on discrete channels (e.g., particularfrequencies or other defined channels). Each receiver 104 could thenrespond to user input or one or more other triggers by tuning to aselected channel and outputting to a content presentation device 106 themedia content that is arriving on the selected channel. And the contentpresentation device 106 could receive and render the media content(e.g., display or otherwise present the content).

In this or other arrangements, as noted above, as the contentpresentation device receives and renders this media content, the contentpresentation device may have no indication of the channel on which themedia content is arriving, e.g., of the channel to which the receiver istuned. Rather, the content presentation device may be configured simplyto receive the media content as a media stream from the receiver and torender the received media content. Per the present disclosure, however,the content presentation device may be in communication with a networkserver and may work with the network server to facilitate identificationof the channel and thus to facilitate taking useful channel-specificaction.

FIG. 2 illustrates more specifically an example system in connectionwith which the presently disclosed features could be implemented.

FIG. 2 shows at its top a representative content presentation device 200receiving a channel of content 202 being provided by a contentdistribution system 204. By way of example, the content presentationdevice 200 could be an example content presentation device 100 as shownin FIG. 1, and the content distribution system 204 could comprise arepresentative media content source 100 and/or media content distributor102 as shown in FIG. 1.

As such, the content presentation device 200 could be receiving andrendering the channel of content as a linear broadcast feed directly orindirectly from the content distributor system 204 through any of avariety of distribution channels, such as but not limited to cable,satellite, terrestrial over-the-air broadcast, broadband streaming, orothers now known or later developed.

In an example implementation, the media content of the channel coulddefine a sequence of digital frames of media content that the contentpresentation device is configured to render for presentation to a user.The content distributor system 204 might be broadcasting this sequenceof frames encapsulated in a transport stream for receipt by a set topbox, tuner, or other receiver that is tuned to the channel, and thereceiver may be extracting the sequence of frames from the transportstream and outputting the sequence of frames for presentation by thecontent presentation device.

As further shown in FIG. 2, the content presentation device 200 isinterconnected with a communication network 206, such as the Internet.For instance, the content presentation device 200 may sit as a node on alocal area network (LAN) at customer premises, with the contentpresentation device having an assigned Internet Protocol (IP) address onthe LAN and the LAN having an IP address on the network 206. The contentpresentation device 200 could thus engage in data communication withvarious entities via the network 206 while the content presentationdevice 200 is receiving and rendering the channel of content 202provided by the content distribution system 204.

Shown accessible via the network 206 (e.g., at a defined IP address onthe network) is an ACR server 208, which could operate to engage in thefingerprint-based ACR processing noted above. With this networkarrangement, the content presentation device 200 could engage in IPcommunication with the ACR server 208 via network 206, providing the ACRserver 208 with query fingerprints representing the media content of thechannel 202 that the content presentation device 200 is rendering. Andthe ACR server 208 could compare those query fingerprints with referencefingerprints of various known channels, in an effort to determine thechannel 202 that the content presentation device 200 is rendering.

In line with the discussion above, the ACR server 208 could beprovisioned with channel reference data 210 that includes referencefingerprints and associated channel-identification data respectively foreach of various known channels.

In practice, for instance, the content distribution system 204 (e.g.,one or more content providers) could generate and provide the referencefingerprints and associated channel-identification data to the ACRserver on an ongoing basis respectively for each of various suchchannels. For instance, as to each channel of media content that thecontent distribution system outputs for delivery to content presentationdevices, the content distribution system could generate timestampeddigital reference fingerprints of the media content on a per frame basisor other ongoing basis, using any digital fingerprinting process nowknown or later developed, and could provide the ACR server with thetimestamped digital reference fingerprints along withchannel-identification data identifying the associated channel.

In a representative implementation, the channel-identification dataprovided per channel can characterize each channel by variousattributes. For example, the channel-identification data couldcharacterize each channel by its content provider, such as with a uniqueidentification name and/or number of a network (e.g., nationalbroadcaster) with which the channel is affiliated. And thechannel-identification data could additionally characterize each channelby its content distributor, such as with a unique identification nameand/or number of a network affiliate that provides the channel. Further,where a receiver or other such device provides multiple differentchannels selectable by channel number and/or channel name, thechannel-identification data might characterize each channel by itsrespective channel number or name in that context as well.

Further the digital fingerprinting process could take various forms.Without limitation, for instance, an example digital fingerprintingprocess for video could apply on a per video frame basis and couldinvolve establishing a representation of luminosity and/or other videocharacteristics. For instance, for a given video frame, a fingerprintgenerator could programmatically divide the frame into a grid, and thefingerprint generator could measure luminosity of the frame per gridcell and generate a bit string with each bit or series of bitsrepresenting luminosity of a respective grid cell, or representing aweighted difference between the luminosity of certain defined pairs ofthe grid cells, or the like. Further, the fingerprint generator couldapply this process continually to generate the digital fingerprint overtime as a sequence of fingerprints (e.g., as a fingerprint stream). Forinstance, the fingerprint generator could apply this process to eachframe, to each key frame, periodically, or on another defined basis,with each frame's bit string defining a digital fingerprint and/or witha specified hash, combination or series of such bit strings or otherrepresentative values defining a digital fingerprint, on a slidingwindow basis. Other digital fingerprinting processes could be used aswell.

As the ACR server 208 receives these reference fingerprints andassociated channel-identification data, the ACR server 208 could storethis information as part of reference data 210 in a relational databaseor other form suitable for ready searching and access. Further, notethat the ACR server 208 could alternatively generate some or all of thisreference data itself and/or receive or otherwise have access to thereference data in another manner.

In addition, in a representative implementation, the ACR server 208could also be provisioned with or otherwise have access to EPG data 212,specifying a scheduled program lineup respectively for each of variousknown channels. This EPG data could be keyed to channel-identificationand could specify program timeslots and program-identification pertimeslot on a per-channel basis. The ACR server 208 could likewisereceive this EPG data from the content distribution system 204 or fromone or more other sources and could store the EPG data for readysearching and access. Although the figure shows the EPG data 212separate from the channel reference data 210, these two sets of datacould alternatively be integrated together or provided in anothermanner.

In addition, as shown, the content presentation device 200 could beequipped with a fingerprint generator 214 (e.g., program instructionsexecutable by a processor of the content presentation device 200), whichcould be configured to generate query fingerprints representing themedia content of the channel 202 that the content presentation device200 is rendering at any given time. The fingerprint generator 214 couldbe configured to receive as input a copy of the media content of thechannel as the media content arrives at the content presentation device200 and/or is processed for presentation by the content presentationdevice 200, and the fingerprint generator 214 could be configured togenerate the query fingerprints of the media content on a per framebasis or other ongoing basis, using the same digital fingerprintingprocess used to generate the reference fingerprints, so as to facilitatea comparison of the query fingerprints with the reference fingerprints.

Further, the content presentation device 200 could be configured totransmit its generated query fingerprints via network 206 to the ACRserver 208 for analysis, to facilitate fingerprint-based ACR andassociated channel-specific action. By way of example, the contentpresentation device 200 could be configured to periodically or from timeto time transmit to the server the query fingerprints representing alatest series of frames of the channel being rendered by the contentpresentation device 200. For instance, the content presentation device200 could generate a message carrying the latest generated queryfingerprints, along with one or more timestamps and/or other associateddata, and could transmit the message from an IP address of the contentpresentation device to an IP of the ACR server 208 for analysis.

As noted above, given the query fingerprints representing media contentof the channel 202 being rendered by the content presentation device200, and given the reference data including reference fingerprintsrespectively representing each of various known channels, the ACR server208 could engage in fingerprint-based ACR processing. In particular, asnoted, the fingerprint-matching server could compare the queryfingerprints with the reference fingerprints in an effort to find amatch.

To compare a given query fingerprint with a given reference fingerprint,the ACR server 208 could compare corresponding portions of thefingerprints with each other to determine whether the portions matchexactly or within defined tolerances. For example, the ACR server 208could compute a maximum deviation between the fingerprints and determineif the maximum deviation is within a predefined tolerance. Further, ifthe fingerprints are binary, this could be a Boolean determination orcould involve computing a Hamming distance (as a count of mismatchesbetween respective bit locations in the fingerprints), and if thefingerprints are more complex values, such as decimal values or vectors(e.g., grey values per video frame region), this could involvedetermining a distance between the values or vectors. Numerous otherexamples are possible as well.

Upon finding with sufficient certainty that the query fingerprints matchthe reference fingerprints of just one specific channel, the ACR server208 could then conclude that that is the channel being rendered by thecontent presentation device 200.

And as further noted above, based on this determined identification ofthe channel being rendered by the content presentation device, the ACRserver 208 could then carry out, or cause to be carried out, one or moreuseful channel-specific actions.

By way of example, the ACR server 208 could responsively report to adata management system 216 that the content presentation device 200 ispresenting the identified channel, as a record of media consumption thatcould help facilitate targeted advertising or other operations.

For instance, the ACR server 208 could generate and transmit to the datamanagement system 216 an ACR data record that includes information suchas the following, for addition to a set of audience-measurement dataused as a basis for channel ratings:

-   -   (1) Timestamp—representing a date and time of the fingerprint        match or of the associated content presentation, measured along        a linear timeline with respect to the channel of content for        instance. The ACR server 208 could determine this timestamp from        a system clock and/or from one or more fingerprint timestamps.    -   (2) Device ID—a unique identifier of the content presentation        device. The ACR 208 could receive this device ID from the        content presentation device 200 together with the query        fingerprint data or could otherwise determine this data.    -   (3) Channel ID—channel-identification information that uniquely        identifies the channel whose reference fingerprint data the ACR        server 208 determined to match the query fingerprint data. The        ACR server 208 could determine this information from the        channel-identification data included in the reference data 210.    -   (4) Program ID—program-identification information that uniquely        identifies the program that the EPG data 212 specifies was        scheduled on the channel at the time of the fingerprint match.        The ACR server 208 could determine this information by querying        to the EPG data 212 based on channel identification and time        information.

Further, as another example, the ACR server 208 could use the identifiedchannel as a basis to invoke dynamic content modification, such as DAI.

To facilitate dynamic content modification in an example implementation,the ACR server 208 may have received in advance from a contentmanagement system 218 a set of modifiable content segment data 220including fingerprints of each of various modifiable content segments(e.g., replaceable ads) and with associated metadata. Thus, havingidentified the channel being rendered by the content presentationdevice, the ACR server 208 could then responsively commence comparingthe reference fingerprints of that identified channel with thefingerprints of the various modifiable content segments in an effort tofind a match. And upon finding with sufficient certainty that theidentified-channel reference fingerprints match the fingerprints of aspecific modifiable content segment, the ACR server 208 could thenengage in signaling to enable and cause the content presentation device200 to carry out a content modification with respect to that modifiablecontent segment.

For instance, the ACR server 208 could provide the content presentationdevice 200 with various data regarding the upcoming modifiable contentopportunity, including timing information and other content-modificationinformation for example, to enable the content presentation device toobtain supplemental content. And the ACR server 208 could provide thecontent presentation device 200 with certain reference fingerprints ofthe identified channel for use by the content presentation device 200 tohelp confirm that the content presentation device 200 continues toreceive the identified channel, as a condition for starting orcontinuing with the content modification.

The content presentation device 200 could then engage in signaling vianetwork 206 with the content management system 218 and perhaps with asupplemental-content delivery system 222, to ascertain and obtainsupplemental content (e.g., a replacement advertisement). And thecontent presentation device 200 could carry out the content modificationwith respect to the modifiable content segment.

As indicated above, a problem that can arise when the ACR server 208carries out its fingerprint-based ACR content analysis is that the ACRserver 208 may detect a multi-match scenario. Namely, the ACR server 28may detect with sufficient confidence that the query fingerprint dataprovided by the content presentation device 200 matches referencefingerprint data respectively of each of multiple known channels. Forinstance, when the ACR server 208 compares with the referencefingerprint data a latest query fingerprint representing a frame ofmedia content being rendered by the content presentation device, the ACRserver 208 may determine with sufficient confidence that the queryfingerprint matches reference fingerprints of multiple known channels.

Variations on this process of detecting this multi-match scenario arepossible as well. For instance, if the ACR server 208 compares groups offingerprints at a time, the ACR server 208 may determine with sufficientconfidence that a latest set of query fingerprints representing framesof media content being rendered by the media presentation device matchessets of reference fingerprint data respectively representing mediacontent of multiple known channels. Further, the ACR server 208 couldcompare various channels' reference fingerprint data with each other andcould flag a set of channels as being a candidate multi-match groupbased on a finding that the channels' reference fingerprint data matcheseach other, and the ACR server 208 could then detect a multi-matchscenario with respect to that group of channels by determining that thequery fingerprint data from the content presentation device matches thereference fingerprint data of at least one of the channels in the groupand determining that the group is flagged as a candidate multi-matchgroup.

When the ACR server 208 detects a multi-match scenario, the ACR server208 could responsively generate a multi-match log, and the ACR server208 could likewise transmit the multi-match log to the data managementsystem 216.

In a representative implementation, the ACR server 208 could include inthis multi-match log various useful information that describes themulti-match scenario encountered by the ACR server 208. For example, themulti-match log could include data specifying at least the followinginformation:

-   -   (1) Timestamp—representing a date and time of the multi-match or        associated content presentation, measured along a linear        timeline with respect to the channel of content for instance. As        noted above, the ACR server 208 could determine this timestamp        from a system clock and/or from one or more fingerprint        timestamps.    -   (2) Device ID—a unique identifier of the content presentation        device. As noted above, the ACR 208 could receive this device ID        from the content presentation device 200 together with the query        fingerprint data or could otherwise determine this data.    -   (3) Multiple Channel IDs—channel-identification information that        uniquely identifies each respective channel in the multi-match        group, i.e., each of the channels whose reference fingerprint        data the ACR server 208 determined to match the query        fingerprint data. The ACR server 208 could determine this        information from the channel-identification data included in the        reference data 210.    -   (4) Multiple Program IDs—program-identification information that        uniquely identifies, respectively for each channel of the        multi-match group, the program that the EPG data 212 specifies        was scheduled on that channel at the time of the multi-match.        The ACR server 208 could determine these program identifiers by        querying to the EPG data 212 based on channel identification and        time information.

In line with the discussion above, when the ACR server 208 generatesthis multi-match log, the ACR server 208 may detect a channelmulti-match with non-matching programs. For instance, based on the ACRserver's analysis of the EPG data for the channels that make up themulti-match group, the ACR server 208 could determine that at least twoof the channels were scheduled at the time of the multi-match to bepresenting different programs than each other. More particularly, theACR server 208 might determine that at least a predefined thresholdpercentage of the identified programs (one per channel in themulti-match group) were different than each other. This predefinedthreshold percentage could be 100%, where all of the identified programswere different than each other, or could be a lower percentage thatencompasses at least two of the identified programs.

Alternatively, the data management system 216 could detect based on themulti-match log a channel multi-match with non-matching programs. Forinstance, the data management system 216 could determine that themulti-match log lists multiple matching channels and specifies at leastthe predefined threshold percentage of different programs that werescheduled to be presented on the channels of the multi-match group.

In response to at least detecting this channel multi-match withnon-matching programs (i.e., specifically in response to at least thiscombination of factors), the ACR server 208, the data management system216, and/or one or more other entities defining a representativecomputing system could then carry out the presently disclosed process inan effort to identify the channel that was being rendered by the contentpresentation device 200 at the time of the multi-match.

As noted above, the process that is carried out in response to at leastdetecting the channel multi-match with non-matching programs couldinvolve taking into consideration the network affiliation of a contentdistributor that distributes the channel to the content presentationdevice 200. In particular, as noted above, the computing system coulddetermine that the channels in the multi-match group are all affiliatechannels of the same network as each other, and based on thatdetermination, the computing system could then determine, as the channelrendered by the content presentation device 200, that network'saffiliate channel the serves the content presentation device's market.

In operation, the computing system could first evaluate thechannel-identification information of each of the channels in themulti-match group, i.e., each of the channels whose referencefingerprint data the ACR server 208 found to match the query fingerprintdata from the content presentation device 200. For instance, if providedwith a multi-match log such as that described above, the computingsystem could refer to the multi-match log to determine thischannel-identification.

Considering this channel-identification information, the computingsystem could determine whether the channels in the multi-match group areaffiliate channels of the same network as each other. For instance, thecomputing system might find that the channels of the multi-match groupare NBC_Miami, NBC_Chicago, NBC_San Francisco, NBC_Atlanta, NBC_Phoenix,and NBC_Denver, and could determine from those channels' identificationinformation that they are all local affiliate channels of the NBCnetwork. Alternatively, or as a n addition step if the computing systemdetermines that fewer than 100% of the channels of the multi-match groupare affiliate channels of the same network as each other, the computingsystem could consider whether at least some lower threshold percentageof the channels of the multi-match group are affiliate channels of thesame network as each other. For this purpose, the threshold percentagecould be in the range of about 70% to 90%, among other possibilities.

Responsive to finding that the channels of the multi-match group are allaffiliate channels of the same network as each other, the computingsystem could then work to determine which affiliate channel of thatnetwork serves the content presentation device's market, and thecomputing system could deem that particular affiliate channel to be thechannel rendered by the content presentation device 200.

To determine which affiliate channel of the network serves the contentpresentation device's market, the computing system could determine alocation of the content presentation device, and the computing systemcould then map that determined location to particular affiliate channelof the network, based on that affiliate channel serving the determinedlocation.

The computing system could determine a location of the contentpresentation device 200 in various ways. For example, a user of thecontent presentation device 200 could input this location informationinto a configuration dialog provided by the content presentation deviceor the content presentation device 200 could determine the location inanother manner, and the content presentation device 200 could transmitthis location information to the ACR server 208 in advance and/ortogether with query-fingerprint reporting, to notify the ACR server 208of the location. Alternatively, the computing system could determine thelocation of the content presentation device 200 based on the IP addressof the content presentation device 200 as used for messaging between thecontent presentation device 202 and the ACR server 208. For instance,the computing system could query an IP-address mapping database to findthe geographic location corresponding with that IP address. Thecomputing system could further include this location information in themulti-match record and/or other such record, and the computing systemcould then determine the location of the content presentation device 200from that record.

Having determined the location of the content presentation device, thecomputing system could then determine which one of the network'saffiliate channels serves that particular location. In the aboveexample, for instance, where all of the channels of the multi-matchgroup are NBC affiliates, at issue would be which NBC affiliate servesthe determined location of the content presentation device 200.(Typically, just one affiliate of the network would serve a givenmarket; if more than affiliate does, then additional factors could betaken into account to complete the channel determination.)

To facilitate determining which one of the network's affiliate channelsserves the determined location of the content presentation device, thecomputing system could be provisioned with or otherwise have access toaffiliate service-area data that specifies for each affiliate channel ofeach network the geographic scope of that affiliate channel's servingmarket. For instance, if a given affiliate channel of a given networkserves a particular city or other region, this affiliate service-areadata could define geographic boundaries of that region. This affiliateservice-area data could be established by manual engineering input,automatically through drive-testing or the like, or in another manner.

Having determined that all of the channels of the multi-match group areof a given network, and having determined the location of the contentpresentation device 200, the computing system could thus query theaffiliate service-area data based on that network and device location,to determine which affiliate channel of that network serves thatlocation. And the computing system could conclude that that determinedchannel is the channel rendered by the content presentation device.

As noted above, the affiliate channel that the computing systemdetermines through this process may or may not be one of the channels inthe multi-match group. It is possible, for instance, that the referencedata received by or otherwise accessible to the ACR server 208encompasses only some, but not all, of the affiliate channels of the agiven network. As to NBC, for instance, as an arbitrary example, thereference data might encompass just the affiliate channels noted abovebut might not encompass an NBC affiliate channel Bismark, North Dakota,NBC_Bismark. Nevertheless, through the above process, the computingsystem might determine that the content presentation device is locatedin Bismark and, given that all of the channels in the multi-match groupwere affiliates of NBC and given that NBC_Bismark is the Bismarkaffiliate of NBC, the computing system could conclude that the channelrendered by the content presentation device is NBC_Bismark.

Once the computing system has thereby determined the channel rendered bythe content presentation device, the computing system could then usethat determined channel as a basis to carry out a channel-specificaction as discussed above.

For example, the computing system could record the determined channel asa single-match ACR data record as noted above, for addition to a set ofaudience-measurement data used as a basis for channel ratings. Here, forinstance, if the ACR server 208 carried out the process, the ACR server208 could then generate and provide the data management system 216 withthe single-match ACR data record. Or if the data management system 216carried out the process, the data management system 216 could itselfgenerate and record the single-match ACR data record.

And as another example, the computing system could use the determinedchannel as a basis for carrying out dynamic content modification such asDAI. And here, for instance, if the data management system 216 carriedout the process, the data management system 216 could report thedetermined channel to the ACR server 208, and the ACR server 208 couldthen invoke the dynamic content modification as described above.Whereas, if the ACR server 208 carried out the process, the ACR server208 proceed immediately with invoking the dynamic content modificationprocess.

Other examples are possible as well.

FIG. 3 is next a flow chart depicting a method that can be carried outin line with the discussion above. One or more of the operations in themethod depicted by FIG. 3 could be carried out by one or more entities,including, without limitation, ACR server 208 or data management system216, and/or one or more entities operating on behalf of or incooperation with these or other entities. Any such entity could embody acomputing system, such as a programmed processing unit or the like,configured to carry out one or more of the method operations. Further, anon-transitory data storage (e.g., disc storage, flash storage, or othercomputer readable medium) could have stored thereon instructionsexecutable by a processing unit to carry out the various depictedoperations.

As shown in FIG. 3, at block 300, the method includes detecting achannel multi-match with non-matching programs. At block 302, the methodthen includes, responsive to at least detecting the channel multi-matchwith non-matching programs, carrying out a channel-determination processto determine the channel rendered by the content presentation device,the channel-determination process including (a) determining thatchannels of the multi-match group are affiliate channels of a samenetwork as each other and (b) based on the determining that channels ofthe multi-match group are affiliate channels of the same network as eachother, determining, as the channel rendered by the content presentationdevice, an affiliate channel of that network based on a determinationthat the identified affiliate channel serves a location of the contentpresentation device. And at block 304, the method includes using thedetermined channel as a basis for carrying out of at least onechannel-specific operation.

In line with the discussion above, such a computing system could receivefrom the content presentation device, via a network communicationinterface, the query fingerprint data representing the channel ofcontent rendered (e.g., being rendered, having been rendered, or inqueue to be rendered) by the media presentation device.

Further, as discussed above, the act detecting a channel multi-matchwith non-matching programs could include (i) detecting, based ondigital-fingerprint comparison, a channel multi-match in which queryfingerprint data representing a channel rendered by a contentpresentation device matches multiple instances of reference fingerprintdata corresponding respectively with multiple known channels and (ii)detecting that, at a time of the detected channel multi-match, themultiple known channels were scheduled to be presenting differentprograms than each other.

Still further, as discussed above, the act of determining that channelsof the multi-match group are affiliate channels of a same network aseach other could involve determining that 100% of the channels of themulti-match group are affiliate channels of the same network as eachother. Or the act of determining that channels of the multi-match groupare affiliate channels of a same network as each other could involvedetermining that at least a predefined threshold portion (e.g.,percentage) of the channels of the multi-match group are affiliatechannels of the same network as each other.

In addition, as discussed above, the channel-determination process couldadditionally include determining the location of the contentpresentation device (e.g., based on location information provided by thecontent presentation device and/or based on a network address (e.g., IPaddress) of the content presentation device). And in that case, the actof determining, as the channel rendered by the content presentationdevice, the affiliate channel of the network based on a determinationthat the identified affiliate channel serves a location of the contentpresentation device could involve determining, as the channel renderedby the content presentation device, the affiliate channel of the networkbased on a determination that the identified affiliate channel servesthe determined location of the content presentation device.

In addition, as discussed above, the at least one channel-specificoperation that could be carried out based on the single known channelestablished through the disambiguation process could take various forms.For instance, the channel-specific operation could involve providing arecord of the content presentation device rendering the single knownchannel, for use in channel ratings. Further or alternatively, thechannel-specific operation could involve using an identity of the singleknown channel as a basis to invoke dynamic content modification, such asDAI, among other possibilities.

Note also that, in this method, the process facilitates determining thechannel rendered by the content presentation device, but thisdetermination may or may not be correct in every instance. Still, themethod could be carried out in an effort to facilitate channelidentification and to facilitate taking associated channel-specificaction.

FIG. 4 is next a simplified block diagram of an example computing systemoperable in accordance with the present disclosure. This system couldrepresent one or more network servers or other entities, such as ACRserver 208, data management system 216, or others. As shown in FIG. 4,the example system includes at least one each of a network communicationinterface 400, a processing unit 402, and non-transitory data storage404, any or all of which could be integrated together or, as shown,communicatively linked together by a system bus, network, or otherconnection mechanism 406.

Network communication interface 400 could comprise one or more physicalnetwork connection mechanisms to facilitate communication on a networksuch as network 206 discussed above, and/or for engaging in direct ornetworked communication with one or more other local or remote entities.As such, network communication interface 400 could comprise a wirelessor wired Ethernet interface or other type of network interface, forengaging in IP communication and/or other type of network communication.

Processing unit 402 could comprise one or more general purposeprocessors (e.g., microprocessors) and/or one or more specializedprocessors (e.g., application specific integrated circuits). Andnon-transitory data storage unit 404 could comprise one or more volatileand/or non-volatile storage components, such as optical, magnetic, orflash storage.

As shown, the non-transitory data storage 404 then stores programinstructions 408, which could be executable by any of the one or moreprocessing units 402 to carry out various operations described herein,such as the operations depicted in FIG. 3 and described above forinstance.

Various features described above could be applied in this context aswell, and vice versa.

FIG. 5 is next a simplified block diagram of an example contentpresentation device operable in accordance with the present disclosure.In line with the discussion above, this content presentation devicecould take various forms. For instance, it could be a television,computer monitor, or other device that operates to receive and rendervideo content, and/or it could be a loudspeaker, a pair of headphones,or other device that operates to receive and render audio content.Numerous other examples are possible as well.

As shown in FIG. 5, the example content presentation device includes atleast one each of a media input interface 500, a media presentationinterface 502, a network communication interface 504, a processing unit506, and non-transitory data storage 508, any or all of which could beintegrated together or, as shown, communicatively linked together by asystem bus, network, or other connection mechanism 510.

Media input interface 500 could comprise a physical communicationinterface for receiving media content to be presented by the contentpresentation device. As such, the media input interface could includeone or more wired and/or wireless interfaces for establishingcommunication with and receiving media content in analog or digital formfrom a receiver or other device or system. For example, the media inputinterface could include one or more interfaces compliant with protocolssuch as DVI, HDMI, VGA, USB, BLUETOOTH, WIFI, among numerous others.

Media presentation interface 502 could comprise one or more componentsto facilitate presentation of the received media content. By way ofexample, the media presentation interface could comprise a userinterface such as a display screen and/or a loudspeaker, as well as oneor more drivers or other components for processing the received mediacontent to facilitate presentation of the content on the user interface.

Network communication interface 504 could comprise a physical networkconnection mechanism to facilitate communication on a network such asnetwork 206 discussed above, and/or for engaging in direct or networkedcommunication with one or more other local or remote entities. As such,the network communication interface could comprise a wireless or wiredEthernet interface or other type of network interface, for engaging inIP communication and/or other type of network communication.

Further, processing unit 506 could then comprise one or more generalpurpose processors (e.g., microprocessors) and/or one or morespecialized processors (e.g., application specific integrated circuits).And non-transitory data storage 508 could comprise one or more volatileand/or non-volatile storage components, such as optical, magnetic, orflash storage. Further, as shown, non-transitory data storage 508 storesprogram instructions 512, which could be executable by processing unit506 to carry out various content-presentation-device operationsdescribed here.

Note that, while the above description provides for using networkaffiliation to determine the channel in response to having detected achannel multi-match with non-matching programs, the computing systemcould alternatively use network affiliation to determine the channel inother scenarios as well.

By way of example, the computing system could use network affiliation todetermine the channel in response to detecting a channel multi-matchwithout regard to whether the associated programs match. For instance,the computing system could determine that at least a predefinedthreshold percentage of the channels in the multi-match group areaffiliate channels of the same network as each other, and in response toat least that determination, the computing system could (i) determinewhich affiliate channel of that network serves the location of thecontent presentation device and (ii) based at least on the determinationthat that affiliate channel of that network serves the location of thecontent presentation device, conclude that that affiliate channel is thechannel rendered by the content presentation device 200. The computingsystem could then use the determined channel as a basis for carrying outof at least one channel-specific operation.

Exemplary embodiments have been described above. Those skilled in theart will understand, however, that changes and modifications may be madeto these embodiments without departing from the true scope and spirit ofthe invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: detecting by a computingsystem a channel multi-match with non-matching programs, whereindetecting the channel multi-match with non-matching programs includes(i) detecting, based on digital-fingerprint comparison, a channelmulti-match in which query fingerprint data representing a channelrendered by a content presentation device matches multiple instances ofreference fingerprint data corresponding respectively with multiplechannels, the multiple channels defining a multi-match group, and (ii)detecting that, at a time of the detected channel multi-match, thechannels of the multi-match group were scheduled to be presentingdifferent programs than each other; responsive to at least detecting thechannel multi-match with non-matching programs, carrying out by thecomputing system a channel-determination process to determine thechannel rendered by the content presentation device, thechannel-determination process including: (a) determining that channelsof the multi-match group are affiliate channels of a same network aseach other, and (b) based on the determining that channels of themulti-match group are affiliate channels of the same network as eachother, determining, as the channel rendered by the content presentationdevice, an affiliate channel of that network based on a determinationthat the affiliate channel serves a location of the content presentationdevice; and using by the computing system the determined channel as abasis for carrying out of at least one channel-specific operation. 2.The method of claim 1, wherein determining that channels of themulti-match group are affiliate channels of a same network as each othercomprises determining that 100% of the channels of the multi-match groupare affiliate channels of the same network as each other.
 3. The methodof claim 1, wherein determining that channels of the multi-match groupare affiliate channels of a same network as each other comprisesdetermining that at least a predefined threshold percentage of thechannels of the multi-match group are affiliate channels of the samenetwork as each other.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein thechannel-determination process further includes determining the locationof the content presentation device, wherein determining, as the channelrendered by the content presentation device, the affiliate channel ofthe network based on a determination that the affiliate channel serves alocation of the content presentation device comprises determining, asthe channel rendered by the content presentation device, the affiliatechannel of the network based on a determination that the affiliatechannel serves the determined location of the content presentationdevice.
 5. The method of claim 2, wherein determining the location ofthe content presentation device is based on location informationprovided by the content presentation device.
 6. The method of claim 2,wherein determining the location of the content presentation device isbased on a network address of the content presentation device.
 7. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the at least one channel-specific operationcomprises providing a record of the content presentation devicerendering the determined channel, for use in channel ratings.
 8. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the at least one channel-specific operationcomprises using an identity of the determined channel as a basis toinvoke dynamic content modification.
 9. The method of claim 8, whereinthe dynamic content modification comprises dynamic advertisementinsertion.
 10. A computing system comprising: at least one a networkcommunication interface; at least one a processing unit; at least onenon-transitory data storage; and program instructions stored in the atleast one non-transitory data storage and executable by the at least oneprocessing unit to carry out operations including: receiving from acontent presentation device, via the at least one network communicationinterface, query fingerprint data representing a channel of contentrendered by the media presentation device, detecting a channelmulti-match with non-matching programs, wherein detecting the channelmulti-match with non-matching programs includes (i) detecting, based ondigital-fingerprint comparison, a channel multi-match in which thereceived query fingerprint data matches multiple instances of referencefingerprint data corresponding respectively with multiple channels, themultiple channels defining a multi-match group, and (ii) detecting that,at a time of the detected channel multi-match, the channels of themulti-match group were scheduled to be presenting different programsthan each other, responsive to at least detecting the channelmulti-match with non-matching programs, carrying out achannel-determination process to determine the channel rendered by thecontent presentation device, the channel-determination process including(a) determining that channels of the multi-match group are affiliatechannels of a same network as each other and (b) based on thedetermining that channels of the multi-match group are affiliatechannels of the same network as each other, determining, as the channelrendered by the content presentation device, an affiliate channel ofthat network based on a determination that the affiliate channel servesa location of the content presentation device, and using the determinedchannel as a basis for carrying out of at least one channel-specificoperation.
 11. The computing system of claim 10, wherein determiningthat channels of the multi-match group are affiliate channels of a samenetwork as each other comprises determining that 100% of the channels ofthe multi-match group are affiliate channels of the same network as eachother.
 12. The computing system of claim 10, wherein determining thatchannels of the multi-match group are affiliate channels of a samenetwork as each other comprises determining that at least a predefinedthreshold percentage of the channels of the multi-match group areaffiliate channels of the same network as each other.
 13. The computingsystem of claim 10, wherein the channel-determination process furtherincludes determining the location of the content presentation device,wherein determining, as the channel rendered by the content presentationdevice, the affiliate channel of the network based on a determinationthat the affiliate channel serves a location of the content presentationdevice comprises determining, as the channel rendered by the contentpresentation device, the affiliate channel of the network based on adetermination that the affiliate channel serves the determined locationof the content presentation device.
 14. The computing system of claim13, wherein determining the location of the content presentation deviceis based on location information provided by the content presentationdevice.
 15. The computing system of claim 13, wherein determining thelocation of the content presentation device is based on a networkaddress of the content presentation device.
 16. The computing system ofclaim 10, wherein the at least one channel-specific operation comprisesproviding a record of the content presentation device rendering thedetermined channel, for use in channel ratings.
 17. The computing systemof claim 10, wherein the at least one channel-specific operationcomprises using an identity of the determined channel as a basis toinvoke dynamic content modification.
 18. The computing system of claim10, wherein the dynamic content modification comprises dynamicadvertisement insertion.
 19. A non-transitory computer-readable mediumhaving stored thereon instructions executable by a processing unit tocarry out operations including: detecting a channel multi-match withnon-matching programs, wherein detecting the channel multi-match withnon-matching programs includes (i) detecting, based ondigital-fingerprint comparison, a channel multi-match in which queryfingerprint data representing a channel rendered by a contentpresentation device matches multiple instances of reference fingerprintdata corresponding respectively with multiple channels, the multiplechannels defining a multi-match group, and (ii) detecting that, at atime of the detected channel multi-match, the channels of themulti-match group were scheduled to be presenting different programsthan each other, responsive to at least detecting the channelmulti-match with non-matching programs, carrying out achannel-determination process to determine the channel rendered by thecontent presentation device, the channel-determination process including(a) determining that channels of the multi-match group are affiliatechannels of a same network as each other and (b) based on thedetermining that channels of the multi-match group are affiliatechannels of the same network as each other, determining, as the channelrendered by the content presentation device, an affiliate channel ofthat network based on a determination that the affiliate channel servesa location of the content presentation device, and using the determinedchannel as a basis for carrying out of at least one channel-specificoperation.
 20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19,wherein determining that channels of the multi-match group are affiliatechannels of a same network as each other comprises determining that 100%of the channels of the multi-match group are affiliate channels of thesame network as each other.